I thought it would be fun to experiment with all 3: implementing the recursive C function used by Gustavo Duarte in Python, doing so inside PythonTutor (which can generate an iframe) and then embedding the PythonTutor iframe inside an IPython Notebook, which I would then embed in this blog post.

Unfortunately, I haven't achieved the trifecta: I couldn't figure out how to embed the PythonTutor iframe inside an IPython Notebook, so I will embed both of them separately here in this blog post. Across the collection, 3 flavors of visualizing recursion are shown:

simple print statement output tracing the call stack (ASCII version)

a static call stack image created by Gustavo

a dynamic call stack created automatically by PythonTutor

I'll start out with embedding Motivating and Visualizing Recursion in Python, an IPython Notebook I created to interweave text, images and code in summarizing Gustavo Duarte's compelling critique and counter-proposal for how best to teach and visualize recursion, and reimplementing his examples in Python.

I really like the way that PythonTutor enables stepping through and visualizing the call stack (and other elements of the computation). It may not be visible in the iframe above (you have to scroll to the right to see it), so I'll include a snapshot of it below.

If anyone knows how to embed a PythonTutor iframe within an IPython Notebook, please let me know, as I'd still welcome the opportunity to achieve a trifecta ... and I suspect that combining these two tools would represent even more enhanced educational opportunities for Pythonistas.